Post by RJ3rail on May 21, 2020 14:58:13 GMT

Quite often when things aren't going quite right I head down to the traincave. Sometimes I have a quick running session and sometimes I just sit pondering.

Upon getting home from work yesterday I decided it'd be a good day to install the pool pump/filter. First thing to go wrong was the garage door handle breaking. I figured no biggie it's the door between the back entry way and garage so I'll fix it later. After getting everything out to the pool and assembly started. I could not get the cartridge filter top to secure and ended up busting a fitting coming out of the pump. Ok ... now that project is done for the day. I took my tools inside and figured tomorrow is another day and I'll find the fitting somewhere. As I was leaving the basement workshop room and turning off the light (which is a pull string type) it clicked but did not spring back. Yup light fixture broke. About this time I was ready to blow a gasket and thought about going to the traincave. I took the rest of the night off instead! lol

Have you ever had times that you just needed to avoid your layout or trains?

Post by harborbelt70 on May 21, 2020 15:16:22 GMT

Quite often when things aren't going quite right I head down to the traincave. Sometimes I have a quick running session and sometimes I just sit pondering.

Upon getting home from work yesterday I decided it'd be a good day to install the pool pump/filter. First thing to go wrong was the garage door handle breaking. I figured no biggie it's the door between the back entry way and garage so I'll fix it later. After getting everything out to the pool and assembly started. I could not get the cartridge filter top to secure and ended up busting a fitting coming out of the pump. Ok ... now that project is done for the day. I took my tools inside and figured tomorrow is another day and I'll find the fitting somewhere. As I was leaving the basement workshop room and turning off the light (which is a pull string type) it clicked but did not spring back. Yup light fixture broke. About this time I was ready to blow a gasket and thought about going to the traincave. I took the rest of the night off instead! lol

Have you ever had times that you just needed to avoid your layout or trains?

NO. My equivalent of your experience is either (1) shorting out some electronic component while trying to do train repairs/mods or (2) being tasked with some home DIY/"honeydew" nonsense that always turns out to be more elaborately maddening than it looked (to someone else). In neither case do I want time off of train running or just pondering; it's a respite from less agreeable things.

Post by Adam on May 21, 2020 15:17:34 GMT

Oh yes, projects, whether train related or not, often find a way of fixing them selves when you step away for a while. My way of getting away from it all is to take the dogs outside and let them chase a ball.

It’s really amazing how the things in our lives can make us happy at times and, just as equally, make us unhappy. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the trains, but it’s really about the people around us and sharing in our treasures where we derive joy.

Post by JDaddy on May 21, 2020 15:24:45 GMT

YES! I have noticed that things you touch and break happen in threes... especially on the train layout... looks like you broke the said three... so you are safe.

Case in point... flipped on the power. Z stuff semaphore starts flapping around like a fish... looks like a voltage spike killed it.. yep hooked up to aux power, confirmed. Back my chair up to get up. Chair back wipes out my custom made remote holders... argh.. re-glue those... start running trains... My GS-2 Daylight immediately throws a traction tire... Take a deep breath... this hobby should be relaxing right?

Time to take a break before you let one drop out off the back of the roundhouse

Post by josef on May 21, 2020 18:02:45 GMT

You should have owned a 41 foot sport fish for 25 years. A successful day was when nothing broke. There were not many of those.

At least the train room is 20 steps away instead of at Hatteras, NC and there is no salt water.

Boats! Let me tell you about the time in a busy channel, filled with yachts. Your on the upper helm when suddenly you lose steering. The upper helm steering hydraulic hose broke. You have to shut the hydraulic line, (which means running around and forward, removing cushions, panel, reaching in to find Hydraulic valve), and shouting to wife to remove the canvas covering the lower helm window, all the time maneuvering with just the engines while rudder is nearly 1/4 to Starboard. Then when canvas is off you sight relief at getting control back with lower helm.

I always thought a 48' Carver was small, but felt bigger when maneuvering in the channel traffic with just the engines.

Post by dennym57 on May 21, 2020 18:32:35 GMT

Quite often when things aren't going quite right I head down to the traincave. Sometimes I have a quick running session and sometimes I just sit pondering.

Upon getting home from work yesterday I decided it'd be a good day to install the pool pump/filter. First thing to go wrong was the garage door handle breaking. I figured no biggie it's the door between the back entry way and garage so I'll fix it later. After getting everything out to the pool and assembly started. I could not get the cartridge filter top to secure and ended up busting a fitting coming out of the pump. Ok ... now that project is done for the day. I took my tools inside and figured tomorrow is another day and I'll find the fitting somewhere. As I was leaving the basement workshop room and turning off the light (which is a pull string type) it clicked but did not spring back. Yup light fixture broke. About this time I was ready to blow a gasket and thought about going to the traincave. I took the rest of the night off instead! lol

Have you ever had times that you just needed to avoid your layout or trains?

Post by RJ3rail on May 21, 2020 18:57:25 GMT

Quite often when things aren't going quite right I head down to the traincave. Sometimes I have a quick running session and sometimes I just sit pondering.

Upon getting home from work yesterday I decided it'd be a good day to install the pool pump/filter. First thing to go wrong was the garage door handle breaking. I figured no biggie it's the door between the back entry way and garage so I'll fix it later. After getting everything out to the pool and assembly started. I could not get the cartridge filter top to secure and ended up busting a fitting coming out of the pump. Ok ... now that project is done for the day. I took my tools inside and figured tomorrow is another day and I'll find the fitting somewhere. As I was leaving the basement workshop room and turning off the light (which is a pull string type) it clicked but did not spring back. Yup light fixture broke. About this time I was ready to blow a gasket and thought about going to the traincave. I took the rest of the night off instead! lol

Have you ever had times that you just needed to avoid your layout or trains?

NO. My equivalent of your experience is either (1) shorting out some electronic component while trying to do train repairs/mods or (2) being tasked with some home DIY/"honeydew" nonsense that always turns out to be more elaborately maddening than it looked (to someone else). In neither case do I want time off of train running or just pondering; it's a respite from less agreeable things.

Very familiar with the honey do/project list that goes on and on. Thought I was done with the pantry build. I will be replacing the door that took me over a hour to perfect and install - not to mention painting. It will be replaced by a door that has a frosted window with pantry printed in it!

Post by waitin4thetrain on May 22, 2020 13:02:28 GMT

Oh Yeah!! Can't find the proper tool even though you used it a couple days previously. Basin wrench. Meanwhile kitchen sink cannot be used. Air turns BLUE. Wife ecstatic!! Then bottom of box lets go...air BLUER now! Go out onto deck, threading spray nozzle onto hose, Son inadvertently turns water on full blast. Instant facewash. Air is now INDIGO!!! Give up, stop everything...curse silently. Wait for another day!!

Post by Craignor on May 22, 2020 23:56:54 GMT

Yeah, sometimes after a string of problems, I just shut it down and walk away. Many times the solution comes in the shower the next morning.

If it’s something like a traction tire or something else with an engine, I just put the loco on the work bench and put another engine on and keep going. I come back and fix the engine on the workbench later.

If it’s a club event, same, I bring at least three engines, if one goes down, I do a quick engine change and keep rolling. I will look at the engine one day after the show is over.

The time of stress is not the time for trouble shooting. I had to learn that the hard way, performing lengthy and needless surgery on problems that didn’t exist, maybe making things worse, and later finding it was a simple and quick fix.

Post by RJ3rail on May 24, 2020 0:50:13 GMT

Garage door fixed. Yesterday I picked up the fitting for the pool and installed in the afternoon. Decided to finish setting it up today. Started at 5:30am with water fill. Checked fittin and all was good. However the return line had a decent drip going. Took out part of the fitting and redid the plumbers tape. Start pump and see leak is at a different part of the fitting. Send wife back to pool store - which is 45 minutes away - to pickup new return line assembly. This is the part that attaches to the line and goes through the pool wall.Wife makes it back and the part is correct. Thankfully our pool store has great stock and pricing. I already figure we're going to lose a ton of water changing this fitting so prepped myself.Took us less than a half hour and maybe loss 10 gallons of water. Couldn't believe it. Turned the pump on and no leaks. I almost fall over!Spent the rest of the day working on outside deck setup.Smoking a brisket on Sunday. Stop by if you're in the area. Lol